Vintage meets the Hilltop
INSIDE
Summer musicals come to Big D
PAGE 3
Opposing views on vegetarianism
PAGE 4
Football ticket sales soar
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WEDNESDAY
AUGUST 29, 2012
Wednesday High 95, Low 72 Thursday High 93, Low 72
VOLUME 98 ISSUE 8 FIRST COPY FREE, ADDITIONAL COPIES 50 CENTS
REPRESENTATION
Student Senate kicks off year SMU STUDENT SENATE AYEN BIOR Contributing Writer abior@smu.edu
SIDNEY HOLLINGSWORTH / The Daily Campus
The Princeton Review released an annual report on the LGBT-friendliness of American universities and colleges.
SMU’s LGBT rank improves PARMINDER DEO Associate A&E Editor pdeo@smu.edu After making a four-time appearance on the top 20 spot, SMU has finally been removed from the Princeton Review of most “LGBT-unfriendly” schools. Yet, Texas leads with the greatest number of universities on the most homophobic list. The Princeton Review annually surveys students from more than 300 colleges to compile “The Best 377 Colleges” guide. The guide provides 62 lists ranking professors, dorms and popular majors. The 62 lists are compiled from one survey that students can fill out once every academic year. The survey is on the Princeton Review website. “The survey has two rankings
that yield specifically with with schools being either [LGBT] unfriendly or friendly. We are trying to give college bound students some perspective,” Robert Franek, senior vice president Publisher and author of “The Best 377 Colleges,” said. “The survey stays open throughout the year with the ranking list coming out early to mid-May. The results come directly from student opinions.” Texas universities compose almost one-fifth of the list. Texas A&M, Baylor University and University of Dallas have made the No. 7, No. 10, and No. 15 spots respectively. Last year, Baylor University did not make the list even though the school lacks a non-discriminatory policy. This year, the Princeton
Review survey question asked, “Do students, faculty and administrators treat all persons equally regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity or expression?” SMU has taken strides to better the campus atmosphere and educate students about the existence of homophobia. Some initiatives were the construction of gender-neutral bathrooms, partaking in the Pride Parade, and drafting legislation towards creating a LGBT Senator. “There has been a distinctive change outside on campus. By pushing LGBT topics, that translated to the campus being more open to hearing LGBT issues. Having Baylor on the list, this year, provides more legitimacy to the survey,” Harvey Luna, co-president of
Spectrum, a LGBT organization at SMU, said. The legitimacy of the Princeton list was called into question by SMU administration in 2011 when SMU jumped up four spots to No. 12. SMU is part of only a handful of universities that has a LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination policy and offers benefits to the same-sex partners of employees. “We have tried to keep the language consistent with the 21st year printing the book,” Franek said. “We are conscious to capture the gender identity and to remain as inclusive as possible. We want to cast the absolute widest net possible.” Princeton Review works with
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POLITICS
Student Senate officially began its year with its first meeting Tuesday afternoon. The meeting, brought to order at 3:32p.m., included student senators as well as the executive staff. SMU Police Chief of Staff, Richard Shafer, joined the meeting and addressed the student body on the recent sexual assault crime alert that rocked campus. As reported, the crime happened in the Law Quad near Carr Collins. According to Schafer, SMU Police are being aided by the Dallas Police Department as well as DART Police in their attempt to find the criminal. Other items on the agenda included SMU student, Alex Taylor, who addressed the Student body regarding an “unfair” grading system within Cox School of business. “Professors are required by their administrators to have an average,” Taylor said. “So they move students grades to fit the average and this concerns me.” After Taylor’s remarks, President Alex Mace proceeded
with the welcome and updates. One recurring issue is the student body’s reluctance to choose attending a football game over Boulevarding. Mace said that he is working with university officials to look at ways to get students from the Boulevard into the games. Mace also announced a new program aimed at freshmen who wish to participate in Student Senate but do not always have an avenue to do so. The new program will introduce two to three pages to the Senate, whose duties include preparing the agenda, keeping the office organized and making copies. The program is designed to allow freshmen and sophomores to build relationships with upper-class senators. The applications for the pages are up on the Student Senate website and students are encouraged to apply. In other Student Senate news, Senate committees are planning meetings within the week. The finance committee is planning on meeting next Thursday. It was announced that they were unable to meet this week because Senators are not yet aware of their committee assignments. Vice President Zane Cavender assured the student body that the meeting will take place as soon as possible. New legislation was announced to commemorate Geoffrey Orsak, the former dean of Lyle School of Engineering, who is now at the University of Tulsa. Orsak is known by students to have done great things for the school as well as the university as a whole. The Scholarship Committee
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ENGAGEMENT
Is America still relevant?
Statesman discusses US-Saudi relations DANIELLA RIVERA Contributing Writer drivera@smu.edu As the United States military pulls out of Saudi Arabia, and China begins to play a larger role in the Arabian Gulf, questions remain as to the relevance of America in the oil rich state. Robert Jordan, former US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, spoke at SMU Tuesday during the Tower Center’s event in the Meadows Museum. Jordan discussed the shift and America’s applicability at this time. He asked the question, “Is America still relevant?” “Yes, and no, Jordan said. “In many sectors
America is irrelevant and in some cases indispensable.” Jordan led his presentation with a brief history of Saudi Arabia’s military relationship with the U.S., and then discussed the association between Saudi Arabia and China, which has been developing over the past 30 years. This informational background set the tone for the rest of the presentation. “Arms sales will continue. And we are still the ‘security umbrella.’ Education, knowledge, and management all pertain to America,” Jordan said. SMU student Arnaud Zimmern found the historical information enlightening. “I was surprised at the intimacy
between Saudi Arabia and the U.S. It seems like they are very friendly with some tense moments,” he said. Other students expressed interest in the rise of China as a regional player in the Middle East. SMU sophomore Julianna Bond was interested in the historical background between Saudi Arabia and China. “It’s something we are just hearing about now, but it is really interesting to see how Saudi Arabia has been connected to China really since the 1980s.” Jordan told attendees the educational bond between the
See GULF page 6
SAFET Y
Sexual Assault Reported on Campus SMU has issued a sexual assault report after a student was sexually assaulted on campus Monday night. The attack happened at 9:10 p.m. near the north entrance of the Carr Collins building, located in the Law Quad, near the 3300 block of Daniel Street. The victim was said to have been grabbed from behind and forced into an area where she was
assaulted. She was later taken to the hospital for medical care and a rape exam. SMU Police Chief Richard Shafer told The Dallas Morning News, “I’ve been here 13 years and I don’t recall anything similar to this when someone is grabbed and pushed into the bushes. It’s very unusual circumstances how this occurred.” SMU Police are actively seeking
the suspect. He is described as a white male, wearing a dark hoodie, dark jeans and colored tennis shoes according to officials. He is also reported to have a low, raspy voice. In response to the event, SMU police have heightened patrolling efforts and plan to put fliers around campus. Additionally, SMU students and staff were sent an email alert after the attack.
SIDNEY HOLLINGSWORTH / The Daily Campus
President R. Gerald Turner speaks to first yearTatum Johnson at the Engaged Learning Expo on Monday.
Expo showcases student research, experiences MALLORY ASHCRAFT Contributing Writer mashcraft@smu.edu Learning went beyond the classroom for more than 100 students in 2012. SMU’s Engaged Learning Expo, which took place on Monday, showcased students, professors and their projects. The event also hosted 45 DFW community-partner and 15 campus programs that offer volunteer opportunities to students. The Engaged Learning Expo highlighted the possibilities for students who are interested in learning and making a difference beyond the classroom. SMU President R. Gerald
Turner made an appearance, along with Provost Paul Ludden and Director of Central University Libraries Gillian McCombs. Dean of Graduate Studies James Quick presented the first Excellence in Mentoring Award, and introduced SMU’s first undergraduate research director. A love for learning and a passion to help others are two common themes among Engaged Learning students. Kimberly Mendoza traveled to Guatemala for six weeks to study the culture, beliefs, traditions, and medicinal remedies of the indigenous Maya. “I’m half indigenous Maya. Going back to my homeland made
me want to realize the difference between Western medicine and cultural medicine,” Mendoza said. Mendoza learned about many traditions that have been passed down through generations. She says her research also led her to learn more about herself. “[What I learned] helps my ultimate goal of being a medical doctor and professor, teaching future medical students about interactions that they may have with different cultures of the world,” Mendoza said. Marissa Ocanpo provides another example of the real-world possibilities that Engaged Learning
See ENGAGED page 6